Arrests in San Francisco

Dozens arrested at San Francisco protest

About 22 protesters were arrested in an “unpermitted” San Francisco march while police officers tried to disperse them for blocking traffic. Demonstrators wore black clothing, masks and threw rocks, paint and flares at police, injuring one officer.

RT,

7 October, 2012

The protest started Saturday as anti-capitalist and anti-colonialist march in San Francisco's financial district that was reportedly part of the Columbus Day actions.

The protest began with an unsanctioned rally, according to police department spokesman Officer Gordon Shyy. When officers tried to approach the crowd, demonstrators began to throw objects at the officers, injuring one.

Also, protesters smashed the window of a local Starbucks coffee shop.

Police encircled the protesters in a roadway and began to detain them. Some protesters managed to flee, but were later found and arrested as well.

The detained protesters are now facing charges of conspiracy, riot, refusing to obey a lawful order from a police officer and resisting, delaying and obstructing a police officer, and assault and battery on a police officer.

Later, items including hammers, an ice pick, flares, and bags of paint containing rocks were discovered in protesters’ backpacks.

On the same day, a smaller group of protesters set up a 24-hour rally in front of San Jose City Hall for a to mark the one-year anniversary of the Occupy San Jose movement in a neighboring town, which was the group's first overnight occupation since they were evicted last year.

It remains unclear whether the 22 arrested in San Francisco were part of the Occupy movement or not. However, the event did take place around the first anniversary mark.